Reports in Portugal have claimed that a deal for Viktor Gyokeres to join Arsenal are on the brink of collapse as the two sides try to agree on a deal. The Record has suggested that the Gunners executives have now returned to London but have not yet agreed on the structure of the deal for the Swedish striker.
It is believed that Sporting CP want a deal with €70million (£60million) guaranteed plus €10million (£8.6million) in add-ons. Whereas the Gunners look to offer €65million (£56million) up front with €15million (£12.9million) in add-ons.
The overall figure appears not to be an issue, with both sides happy with the €80million (£69million) valuation, but how the deal is structured is causing the problem. football.london understands, despite these reports, that a move to take the striker to Arsenal remains the more likely scenario and that more talks will take place to iron out the details.
The player is enamoured by Arsenal and has already agreed personal terms with the club and is excited to be taking on the challenge of becoming the club’s new main striker. Andrea Berta has been leading the discussions, as the club’s new sporting director looks to make a big splash in his first window in charge.
Arsenal would like to have their new forward in before they fly off to pre-season in Asia on July 19, with their first game four days later against AC Milan in Singapore. The sense at the moment remains that there is a strong chance this will be the case.
Gyokeres will have to contend with the presence of Kai Havertz, whom Mikel Arteta remains a very big fan of. In addition, it is worth remembering that the Spaniard’s striker preference was Benjamin Sesko this window, and so it will be interesting to see how Arteta responds to getting his second-choice rather than the Slovenian, who was believed to be more tailored to the Arsenal system.
Arteta has adapted and changed the way Arsenal have played many times before, and he will be more than capable of doing so again. After Gyokeres, assuming the deal is completed, the club have further desires to strengthen with other known targets including Cristhian Mosquera, Noni Madueke, Eberechi Eze and Rodrygo.
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